Droupadi Murmu writes to Ranil Wickremesinghe, wishes him success as President of Sri Lanka

Wickremesinghe, himself a new President, was among world leaders who congratulated Murmu on becoming the President of India.

President Droupadi Murmu, in a letter to Ranil Wickremesinghe, wished success to her Sri Lankan counterpart, the Indian High Commission said on Friday.

India's 15th President Droupadi Murmu during her oath ceremony in the Central Hall of Parliament, in New Delhi, Monday, July 25, 2022. (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore)

“President of India felicitated H.E President @RW_UNP. Wishing success to the President of Sri Lanka in her letter, Rashtrapati noted that #India's commitment to the people of Sri Lanka is guided by the 'Neighbourhood First'policy. She also expressed hope that the long-standing bilateral partnership based on shared heritage and deep people to people ties will strengthen further,” the High Commission stated on Twitter.

Murmu, who was the candidate of the BJP-led ruling NDA, defeated the joint opposition's candidate, former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, in the July 18 polls. The counting of votes took place on July 21, with the 64-year-old found to have secured 64% of the valid votes.

Meanwhile, Wickremesinghe, 73, himself became the island nation's eighth head of state only on July 20, and took over the presidency at a time when his homeland is passing through its worst financial crisis. He succeeded Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled to Maldives and then to Singapore, amid anger against the Rajapaksa family, held responsible by the masses for the ongoing crisis.

Throughout the crisis, India has repeatedly stepped up to help its southern neigbhour.